Shaun Patton

Inter-county Patton began training with Donegal for the first time in January 2018. Boyle then started against Galway in the second league fixture, and again started in the third fixture against Dublin (at Croke Park). Then, in the fourth league fixture against Kildare, manager Declan Bonner opted for Patton as Donegal's first choice goalkeeper, prompting Boyle to quit.

Patton continued in goal for the remainder of the season. He made his Ulster Senior Football Championship debut from the start against Cavan, and played every minute against Derry and Down on the way to the final against Fermanagh, which Donegal won. He then played every minute of Donegal's 2018 All-Ireland challenge, making his Croke Park debut against Dublin in the quarter-final group stage on 14 July 2018, only for Donegal's challenge to come undone against eventual finalists Tyrone.

Patton started the opening game of the National Football League, before briefly alternating with McGinley, until taking over completely as Donegal's first choice goalkeeper when McGinley withdrew from consideration in March due to his reluctance to commit in the competition against Patton.

Patton won his second Ulster Senior Football Championship later that year, again completing every minute of play. He did so while competing against Paul Durcan (regarded as having the sport's closest ability in the goalkeeping position to Stephen Cluxton); Durcan had availed of McGinley's departure to seek a return to Donegal.

Style Patton's short and long range kick-outs, as well as his and shot-stopping abilities, have garnered him comparisons with Paul Durcan and Stephen Cluxton. His kicks have been likened to "laser darts". RTÉ noted as early as the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship victory over Derry that "Patton's long, accurate kick-outs were highly effective in setting Donegal back on the attack". 2024 Ulster Schools All Star: 1